Updates Week of July 4, 2022

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, Angeleno Corps’ first ever cohort graduated from the program. The Angeleno Corps is a 10-month long program that offers hands-on work experience and educational support to 18-24 year olds living in Los Angeles. The selected Corps members served in one of four areas: education & child care, health and environmental justice, tech and digital assistance, and immigration advocacy. Through this part-time work experience, participating youth received $1,000 monthly stipends as well as a one-time $1,000 scholarship to assist with their educational needs.  

At the graduation ceremony, which took place at the EXPO Center's W.M. Keck Amphitheater, 302 youth were awarded with certificates of completion. Among those graduating were youth from the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center, Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC), Brotherhood Crusade, Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), El Proyecto (Sun Valley & San Fernando), and Para Los Niños (Central & East Los Angeles). EWDD’s General Manager Carolyn Hull, Mayor Garcetti, Deputy Mayor Shockley, and representatives from Angeleno Corps organizations, LAC + USC Medical Center and The Hidden Genius Project, presented speeches congratulating the graduating cohort for their dedication and perseverance over the past 10 months.

“While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on youth across Los Angeles, we know that that impact has been particularly devastating for communities of color, leading to high unemployment rates and disconnection from education. The Angeleno Corps program is a critical program designed to meet the urgency of the moment by re-engaging youth into education and their community through an intense 10-month long program,” said EWDD General Manager Carolyn Hull. “As the daughter of West Indian immigrants, I understand the power of education to transform lives firsthand. This program has provided youth with an opportunity to gain work experience, give back to their communities, and get compensated with a stipend,” she adds. 

To apply, youth must be between the ages of 18-24, live within the City of Los Angeles, enrolled in a Los Angeles community college, and/or enrolled at a YouthSource Center.

After returning home from 15 years of incarceration, Lorraine relocated to Los Angeles ready to start her next chapter and take advantage of all the opportunities the city had to offer. However, after the move, she experienced homelessness as she worked to overcome steep barriers to finding employment.

Lorraine knew the value of a supportive network and asking for the help that you need, so she sought out the services and community offered by Homeboy Industries. There, she began Homeboy’s training program and was identified as an ideal candidate to take full advantage of the LA:RISE program. Over the course of her transitional employment, Lorraine says she developed and refined her time management skills, which enabled her to keep two part-time jobs and support her family. She also gained customer service experience, built a resume, and began practicing meditation.

Throughout her experience, Lorraine credits Homeboy Industries and LA:RISE staff with providing a supportive, stable home base as she made large life transitions, reconnected with her son, and navigated increased responsibilities. Soon after graduating from LA:RISE, Lorraine found employment at Urban Alchemy where she is proud to assist those experiencing homelessness and advocate for their needs. She was quickly recognized for her work ethic and passion on the job and was promoted to a supervisor position.

Of the future, Lorraine says, “My goal is to change at least one person’s life and show them there are better days ahead.” Working at Urban Alchemy, and with the ongoing support of her Homeboy community, Lorraine knows that she can achieve her goals.

EWDD is a leadership team partner of the Los Angeles Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise (LA:RISE). This innovative, collaborative partnership unites the City and County of Los Angeles' Workforce Development System (WDS) with non-profit social enterprises and for-profit employers to help individuals with high barriers to employment get good jobs and stay employed.